John Watt Son Coffee House - Carlisle

Came here for a coffee and lunch, and both were outstanding. One of the best quality coffees I’ve had in some time. It was a Saturday and really busy, but service was pretty quick and the staff were really friendly and efficient. The artefacts downstairs by the toilets are worth a view too. Place has such heart. Will definitely be back.

It is unfortunate to see a decline in standards at this restaurant. While it used to be known for its good quality food and great service, my recent experience left me feeling that it was not as good as before. It took a long time to get a menu and place an order, even though the restaurant was not very busy. Other customers also had to wait a long time to be served. The coffee I ordered was average at best, especially considering the high prices charged for their own roasted coffee. I opted for a cafetiere, but found it to be weaker than coffee from popular chain coffee shops. Additionally, one staff member loudly shouted across the cafe to customers instead of approaching them, which seemed unprofessional. The staff member also discussed personal matters at a loud volume, which was not necessary for customers to hear. Overall, this cafe seems to be on a downward trend despite its potential.

It’s really wonderful to try out a historic local brand while being on holiday. This is why anyone ought to try a historic local coffee shop in Carlisle. I had one of their cafetière drinks with the well known 1865 blend. It was really good, especially when it was nice outside.

On our way to the Edinburgh fringe, we took time out to refuel ourselves and were so lucky to find this journey back in time at John Watt and Sons. If you seek out those wonderful atmospheric independent cafes and coffee houses, this will be an absolute treat for you. As soon as you step inside, it is clear that the owners and staff really care about the experience of sounds, smells and memorabilia from a past golden era. You can choose to sit in and select a meal from the well presented menu, we had the full breakfast which was piping hot and very filling. Or you can choose from the classic range of coffees and blends to take home at the deli style counter. Part of the experience is the decor, and if you finish your meal, take a few moments to take the staircase at the corner of the room and journey down to the cellar and their fascinating museum of genuine shop items from the 1940s and before. This is a cafe that should be a destination on everyone’s list because it’s good for the soul. Thankyou to the very friendly, attentive staff who clearly work very hard. When we are on our way to the fringe next year we’ll definitely call back.

We stopped here for lunch on a whim what a fantastic find! There is a large variety of coffees to choose from both to have in the cafe, and to purchase to take home. The food was amazing, and we’ll priced. We had pea and mint soup with either a sandwich or a cheese scone, perfect for a cold, rainy day. The most unexpected but was the collection of tea tins, chocolate boxes, and old kitchen tools in the basement. If you don’t need to use the facilities, you’d wouldn’t know it was there.